December i, 1887.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
fit to tap, are abundant, and Rtand close together. 
The tree yields nothing while it is leafless in the hot 
season, and the best season for working is from July 
to October. Ono man collects from forty to fifty 
visa (one hundred and forty six to one hundred 
and eighty two pound.-.) in one season, and the 
viss sells at Kangoon fur one rupee. In the slack 
season these men are employed in making torches of 
tho Eng tree woodoil, and we add particulars of the 
method pursued in tho collection of this valuable 
artiole. Unlike the varnish, the wood-oil exudes not 
from tho bark, but from the outer layers of wood. It 
will, however, be remembered, that anidng conifers, 
which all belong to one natural order, some, such as 
tho Larch and J'imis Piiiastur, exude resin from the wood, 
while others, like the Spruce, produce it in the bark. 
Deep, semicircular niches are cut into the wood : the 
first cut is from four to s ; x inches deep, anil from 
twelve to eighteen inches wide; the bottom of the 
niche boiug slightly hollowed out, to receive the oil. 
It oozes out and collects at the bottom of the niche 
about three days after the cut has been made. The 
surface is then charred with fire, after which the oil 
runs for three days; this process is repeated four 
time-;, and at the end of fifteen days, the surfuee 
of the uicho is cut afresh, the old charred wood 
being cut away and the niche oularged. After the 
oil has run for throe days, tho surface is asrain charred, 
and the original process repeated. The Eng tree 
yie'ds oil throughout the year, and one tree often 
yields oil from several niches at the same time. Mr. 
Douglas saw a tree with six niches, two of which 
were yielding oil at tho time. One man can make 
from two thousand to three thousand torches iu a 
year, and ono hundred torches require about ten viss 
(thirty-six pounds) of oil which is mixed with touch 
wood and neatly wrapped up iu the leaves of palms 
or of the Tsathoaben, a species of Pan lanus, so as 
to form cylinders about twenty inches long and two 
inches in diameter. They are tied with thin strips 
of b imboo, geuenlly of the Skizostachyum peryracile; 
leavos of tho Licudla pillita are likewise used for this 
purpose. A man can collect from seven huudred to 
one thousand pounds of wood-oil in a year. The 
wood-oil of the Kauyin tree is collected precisely in 
the same manner. One man cau manage from thirty 
to forty oil-yielding Kanyiu trees; he goes around 
with a number of hollow bamboos or other vessels, 
and one collection gives him from three tofourvi*s 
The torohes sell at the rate of fifty per rupee and 
the Eng torohes at rupees five per one hundred. The 
Erjg and Kanyin trees so valuable for their wood- 
oil; the Bambouay, ( Careyea arboiea) Thanat, ( Cotdir 
yrandis) Mhsyah (also a spi cies of Oordia) Jfaranta 
dxchotoina, of wb'ch the beautiful soft Thinbu mats 
are made the cetechu and varuish trees, and several 
species of Sterculia for rope ami an immense vari- 
ety of other useful and necessary articles, would 
all thrive in the Nilgiri District and Wyuaad, aud 
would amply repiy the plan'er for the cost and 
labour of cultivation. We commend these cougenial 
branches of industry to planters who are seekiug 
other investments for their capital thau the played- 
out and overdone Coffee and Oiuchona industries. — 
Nilgiri Express. 
> 
NOTES ON TREES SUITABLE FOR PLANTING 
IN AND ABOUT TOWNS IN THE 
WEST INDIES. 
(F.om Jamaica Botanic Gardens Bulletin.) 
A very large r iiier ot seedling trees can bo 
supplied from the Gardens at the nominal price of 
Id. to 3d. oach. Carriage is not undertaken by the 
Department, but can be arranged for at the rate of 
about i dozen plants for 8s. 
The trees should not ho planted closer together 
than 20 or 30 feet, accordiug to tho length of tho 
branches. If it is found possible to plan' them at 
regular intervals, it is preierabb- to h ive nil the tri es 
in one streot of the name kind; it, on the other 
hand they stand at irregular intervals, it is better to 
h avo a variety. 
In forming now streets, the rule to be adopted 
for the p >sition of the trees on the road is that 
they should be 4 feet from the foot path, and clear 
of the water-table. They should never be planted on 
the foot-path where they would hinder foot-passengers, 
and raise th,: pathway by the growth of th.-ir roots. 
Iu a road or street, the holes should be dug larger 
thau in ordinary ground about 5 feet wi le at tho 
top, and 5 feet deep. The earth taken out from 
holes in streets should be replaced with good soil well 
mixed with well rotted mauure. 
If an iron grating is placed on the surface round 
tho stem, the soil remains soft, and allows water and 
air to penetrate to tho roots. Probably the best plan 
in this climate would bo to have a kind of gridiron 
arrangement with the bars attached by nuts, so that 
as the stem expands, the innermost bars could be 
removed. The grating should bo at least 3 feet square. 
It is also necessary to protect the youug plants by 
means of upright guards, which should be 4 or 5 feet 
high; and stakes are necessary until the plants are 
well established. Pruning is constantly necesairy to 
keep the trees within bounds, and to give them a 
good shape. The trees, especially while youug, require 
constant watering. 
The following aro a few of the trees suitable for 
planting : — 
The Eucalyptus or Gum trees are natives chiefly of 
Australia where they form forests, but they are also 
found iu the Malay Archipelago. They are the largest 
trees in the world, some which were measured proved 
to be more than 400 feet high. The leaves hang 
vertically, thus giving a remarkable character to the 
scenery. Several species of Eucalyptus grow more 
quickly thau any other tree; the timber is at first 
soft, and is easily felled, split, and sawn, bat when 
thoroughly dry, it becomes as hard as oak. 
Eucdyptus trees have acquired a reputation for 
planting iu malarial swampy ground, and that for 
two reasons, first because they absorb an immense 
amount of moisture from the soil, practically draiuing 
it, and secondly, because there is a larijo quantity of 
aromatic essential oil contained in their leaves, which 
becomes oxidized by the action of the air, and pro- 
duces an active disinfectant, — peroxide of hydrogen. 
The " Red Gum Tree " (Euca'yptus rostrata) of 
Southern Australia thrives in wettish soil with a clayey 
sub-soil, even when tho water is slightly brackish. 
It is recommended as an antiseptic tree for cemeteries 
in tropical countries. It is of rapid growth, often 
attaiuiug a height of 65 feet in 6 years, eventually 
reaching to a height of 200 feet. The timber is 
thought highly of, lasting well above or below ground, 
or iu water. The government of Victoria, whenever 
practicable, use no other timber for bridges and 
railways; as railway sleepers it lasts 12 years. 
The Yate Tree" (Eucalyptus cornuta) of South- 
west Australia, is reported to have reached a 
height of 8 or 10 feet iu the first year in pi mtations 
at Lucknow. It prefers a wettish soil. The wood 
is equal to the best ash. 
The Iron-bark Tee (EucalyptUH Leucoxylon) sup- 
plies a valuable timber, worth 2s. 6d. a cubic foot 
in Melbourne. The wood bears twice the stnin of 
American oak or ash. The tree grows to a height 
of 100 feet. ; it is generally found on slaty formation?, 
but accommodates itself to any soil. 
Tho Swamp Mahogany (Eucalyptus rohusta) is said 
to thrive best in low, s. ur, swampy ground uear the 
sea-coist. It grows 10C feet high with a grand mass 
of foliage, aud resists cyclones better than most 
other Eucalyptus. 
Other desirable Eucalyptus are the Manna Gura 
Tree {E. viminalis^, the flooded Gum Tree (E. saligna), 
the Tallow \N"ood (E. microcorys), the Red Guru 
Tree (/'.'. tentirornis), and the Striugy Bark Tree 
(E. obli(pta\ A mass of information is contained in 
Harou von Mu.lhi's Work*. 
The Tamarind (Tanutrtudus indieus) though of 
slow growth, is suitable for plaining uear DOOMS, M 
it is Urge aud ornamental, affording pleasant sb.ide 
with handsome, fragrant flowers. The fruit is osetul, 
